🌱 What is a Garden Town?

A Garden Town is:

  • A self-contained, master-planned development, often for 10,000+ homes
  • Inspired by the early 20th-century Garden City movement (e.g. Letchworth, Welwyn), which aimed to combine the best of town and countryside
  • Supported by central government through Homes England, which may provide funding or infrastructure assistance

🏗️ Key Features:

  • High-quality design and layout
  • Integrated transport and schools
  • Environmental sustainability
  • A long-term stewardship model for public spaces
  • Infrastructure-first approach (roads, GP surgeries, broadband, etc.)

📍 Examples:

  • Bicester Garden Town (Oxfordshire)
  • Didcot Garden Town
  • North Essex Garden Communities
  • Gilston Garden Town (Harlow and Gilston)

🚨 Relevance to EHDC?

East Hampshire is not currently hosting a government-designated Garden Town, but:

  • If EHDC wanted to deliver large-scale new settlements, it could bid for Garden Town status.
  • This may unlock funding, technical support, and planning flexibilities.
  • It would require EHDC to prepare a detailed strategic framework, potentially via the Local Plan.